DA urged to drop criminal charges against transgender teen

KGO

January 15, 2014 2:55:06 PM PST

HERCULES, Calif. --

The Contra Costa County district attorney is facing increasing pressure from activists to drop the charges against a transgender teenager who claims she acted in self-defense when she attacked another student who had been bullying her.

Jewlyes Gutierrez admits to starting a fight that was captured on cellphone video last November at Hercules High School.

A petition drive started by her family on change.org now has more than 122,000 signatures and a coalition of community groups has sent a letter to the district attorney urging him to drop criminal charges.